7.  The applicant was born in 1972 and lives in Yerevan.
8.  The applicant at the material time was a member of the “Republic” Party («Հանրապետություն» կուսակցություն).
9.  On 10 May 2002 the “Republic” Party applied to the Mayor of Yerevan for permission to hold a demonstration on Freedom Square in Yerevan on 14 May 2002.
10.  On 13 May 2002 the Mayor authorised the demonstration as requested.
11.  The demonstration was held as planned on 14 May 2002, at around 15.00, on Freedom Square. It was jointly organised by the “Republic” Party and six other political parties. The applicant participated in the demonstration.
12.  Following the demonstration, at around 16.00, the applicant called on participants to hold a procession through the Baghramyan Avenue towards the Parliament building. It appears that a crowd of people followed the applicant in a procession along the Avenue.
13.  The same day, at 23.10, the applicant was arrested and brought to the Arabkir District Police Station of Yerevan (ՀՀ ոստիկանության Երևան քաղաքի Արաբկիրի բաժին). The record of an administrative offence (վարչական իրավախախտման արձանագրություն) prepared by the police officers stated that the applicant had “organised an unlawful procession and violated the prescribed rules for holding demonstrations and street processions”.
14.  On 15 May 2002 the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court of Yerevan (Երևան քաղաքի Կենտրոն և Նորք-Մարաշ համայնքների առաջին ատյանի դատարան) examined the applicant's case. The District Court found that:
“[The applicant], in violation of the prescribed rules for holding street processions and demonstrations, on 14 May 2002 at around 16.00 o'clock, participated with a group of people in an unauthorised procession. Thus, he has committed an offence envisaged by Article 180.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences [(Վարչական իրավախախտումների վերաբերյալ ՀՀ օրենսգիրք)]. Taking into consideration the circumstances of the case and the personality of [the applicant], the court finds it necessary to impose an administrative penalty in the form of a fine.”
15.  The District Court imposed a fine in the amount of 500 Armenian drams (AMD) (approx. EUR 1 at the material time). The decision was final and not subject to appeal.
16.  On 24 May 2002 the applicant lodged an appeal with the Civil Court of Appeal (ՀՀ քաղաքացիական գործերով վերաքննիչ դատարան). In his appeal the applicant argued that in accordance with the Constitution he had a right to contest the decision of the District Court before a higher court. He further argued that the interference with his right to freedom of assembly was not prescribed by law, as there did not exist any law which prescribed the rules that the applicant had allegedly violated. Furthermore, he expressly requested the Court of Appeal to name any such law if it existed.
17.  On 14 June 2002 the Civil Court of Appeal examined the applicant's appeal and found that:
“On 14 May 2002 at around 15.00 o'clock [the applicant] participated in an authorised demonstration on the Freedom Square in Yerevan. Thereafter, at around 16:00 [the applicant] with a group of people participated in an unauthorised procession through the Baghramyan Avenue, during which he headed the procession [. For this reason] he was brought to the [police station].
The fact of the applicant heading an unauthorised procession is characterised as an offence envisaged under Article 180.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences, therefore, he must be subjected to administrative liability.”
18.  On 24 June 2002 the applicant lodged a cassation appeal with the Court of Cassation (ՀՀ վճռաբեկ դատարան).
19.  By a letter of 1 July 2002 the Court of Cassation informed the applicant that the domestic legislation did not provide for a right to lodge a cassation appeal against the decisions which the applicant sought to contest.